Seaweed and Its Many Uses
In this article, we will be looking at the fascinating world of seaweed and how we can benefit from this wonder of nature that we hardly hear anything about when it comes to landscape and gardening.
So the question is, what is so fascinating about seaweed and how can seaweed benefit us from a landscape and gardening point of view?
The journey of seaweeds
Because of the scoop on this topic, I will try to keep this as short as possible while we take a closer look at the nature of seaweed. Seaweeds begin their journey from the ocean being carried by currents
as it finds its way washed up on our beaches. Though seaweeds are not looked upon as much by many, seaweeds are of great value and have been used in foods, cosmetics, the medical field, as an insecticide, as a bath detox, and even in gardening.
Seaweeds have been classed not as a weed believe it or not but as vegetables that grow in the nutrient-rich ocean which I think is pretty interesting. Seaweeds are believed to be rich in iron, calcium, and iodine, research has shown that the nutrients that are found in seaweeds are good for promoting healthy bones, proper brain function, and the body’s metabolism.
A diet of seaweed has also been known to help in weight loss, detoxify the body, lowers blood pressure, and helps control cholesterol. The plant itself is fertilized by the nutrient content that is found in the ocean.
Seaweed varieties and their benefits
There are said to be more than 7000 species of seaweeds that lives in our ocean, therefore we will be looking at the more common ones because of the scoop on this topic.
Seaweed and gardening
1. Dulse- Is said to have the taste of bacon, Dulse is rich in proteins, fiber, antioxidants, iron, potassium, copper, magnesium, calcium, zinc, fatty acids, and trace minerals. Helps the digestive system, promotes eye health, seaweeds are good brain food, helps with thyroid glands, strengthens the immune system, strengthens the nervous system, and is good blood support.
2. Kelp- Contains Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Vitamin K, Iron, calcium, thiamin, magnesium, manganese, riboflavin, copper, zinc, choline, niacin, and folate. Kelp can be eaten raw, cooked, powdered, or in supplements.
Kelp is rich in antioxidants which help to fight free radicals that cause disease.
3. Irish Moss- Contains Vitamin C, Vitamin K, calcium, potassium, manganese, magnesium, zinc, iron, phosphorus, iodine, and proteins. Helps to fight colds and flu, helps to promote healthy skin, helps to reduce constipation, nausea, gastritis, and indigestion.
4. Hijiki- Contains Vitamins Vitamin A, Vitamin VB1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B6, Vitamin E, Vitamin K, biotin, potassium, manganese, zinc, copper, calcium, sodium, iron, molybdenum, phosphorus, and iodine. Promotes heart health, promotes bone health, helps with digestion, promotes hormone,s and lowers cholesterol.
5. Bladderwrack – Contains Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Vitamin K zinc, phosphorus, manganese, selenium, bromine, and zeaxanthin. Health benefits of bladderwrack include promoting heart health, vision health, aids in digestion, helps with weight loss, helps to prevent cancer, helps to promote thyroid health and reduce inflammation.
6. Nori- Contains Vitamin A, Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2 Vitamin B6, Vitamin C, Vitamin B12, Vitamin K, fiber, taurine, and omega 3 fatty acids. Health benefits include Promoting cell health, promoting healthy skin, helps with weight loss, promotes heart health, and provides antioxidants.
Seaweed and gardening
Now we have come to the part why this article was created and that is seaweed and gardening, the question still stands and is what does seaweed have to do with gardening? My former supervisor told me many years ago as a small boy growing up he would watch persons while gardening using seaweeds
as natural organic in their gardens, when I heard that I was surprised, who would ever believe that seaweeds could actually be used as a natural organic for plants. As far as I knew they were just weeds on the beach washed up by the waves and nothing more, but to use as a natural organic, medicine, food, cosmetics, detox or insecticide is just amazing.
Adding seaweed to your garden soil
It is believed that before you add seaweed to your garden bed it is best to wash seaweed in fresh water to rinse away the salt. Others prefer not to rinse off salt saying that the salt content is not that high to affect garden plants. Rule to remember, always apply seaweed to soil 24-36 hours after collecting from the beach because
seaweeds degrades very quickly, especially when kept in enclosed containers or bags where there is no air circulation. If kept in these conditions for long periods of time they will become slimy and more difficult to handle.
Ways to apply seaweeds
You can apply seaweeds by
1. cutting them up into pieces and mixing them into your garden soil, best results are before any planting is done.
2. You can lay seaweeds on top of the soil around plants, then add soil on top to speed up decomposition.
3. You can also wrap them around the base of your garden plants making sure to keep them from the stems and leaves off your plants.
As seaweeds break down it will add nitrogen, potassium, and other nutrients to your garden soil.
Seaweed spray solution
Creating a seaweed spray solution is a great way to feed your plants, giving them a healthy nutritious drink and controlling certain insects.
To create this solution you will need to collect enough seaweed to fill a large container like a garbage container, rubber containers are great. 1.Wash of seaweed as safety measures to get rid of salt, 2. Add seaweed to the container, 3. add water and place lid tightly on the container, let this sit for about three to three and a half months, 4. remove lid and give the mixture a good stir, and you are good to go. A word of caution at this point, this solution does not smell very inviting.
Applying a seaweed spray solution
Add the solution to the spray bottle or backpack and use it as a foliar spray by applying it to your plant leaves, this makes a great natural organic spray solution. Here is an example of foliar feeding, just follow the link. foliar spray, I hope you enjoy it.
Caution
Before collecting seaweeds from beaches make sure that you are not in violation of federal or state laws. You want to be within your rights so check first.
The final word
Seaweeds can be used in so many ways, even in our landscapes and gardens, so make sure and add to your garden area this natural organic, this will work wonders for you.
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About the author
Norman loves being in the garden, both at home and for his job....
he is 'Natures Little helper' being outdoors, growing his vegetables and flowers from an early age.
Now having spent over 22 years in the profession he want to give some of his knowledge to others...
his vast array of hints and tips you will find scattered over this site will help you no end growing plants in your garden.
I learned a lot about seaweed and the benefits to your garden from this article. I particularly liked the way you used to comparison of the nutritional benefits of seaweed to humans before you showed how it could help in the garden. I would have liked to see a little more detail on the gardening part since this is a gardening website but it did cover the basics so I guess that is what you were aiming for.
Hello Terry it is so good to see you, I am glad that I could help, all the best to you and have a good night.
I really enjoyed reading some of your articles. I appreciate that other people are concerned with our health, animals, and the environment. There is so much information on your website, I am truly impressed. How many websites have you created? I liked the drop down menus under your headed. What Theme do you use?
Hello Holly it is so good to meet you and thanks a million for those very kind words, you have made my day, your words alone shows me that all the work and effort that went into creating this website is paying off. At the moment I am just concentrating on landscape and gardening because this field is so vast.
Will probably add another one, but for now my focus is landscaping and gardening. And as for the theme I will have to get back to you because I need to check, not sure at this time
Thanks again for your very kind words, all the best to you my dare lady and have a wonderful and bless say.
Hi there,
Awesome and highly informative site. Thanks for creating and sharing this article with us – really appreciated.
Been telling my gardener friends for ages to go collect the seaweed from our local beach as it is a powerful natural fertiliser that can indeed revitalise the soil.
I’m going to have a lovely told you so moment when I email them this link!
Good morning Derek LOL it is so good to see you,seaweeds are great and has so much benefits. Thanks again for stopping by and commenting and I am sure that your friends will listen to you going forward. All the best to you and thanks for sharing this link, have a good day.
I didn’t realise seaweed was so versatile in its uses and health benefits to both us personally and our gardens.
I will definitely be looking to head to our local beach after the next storm to collect some seaweed.
My garden will be producing far better in a years time after I apply some seaweed to it.
Thanks for the informative article.
Regards
Russell
Hello Russell it is so good to meet you, seaweed has many benefit and it is good to know that we can use that which is natural to our advantage. I am glad that I could help, all the best to you and have a good day.
Hi Norman,
Thank-you for all the information on seaweed. I honestly did not realize there were so many different types. I will be looking to see what I can find. I am definitely going to be finding Dulse to include in my diet. I think the properties will help me in finding better health. I never thought of seaweed to help me out in my garden. It is a great tip that I plan to try out.
I look forward to reading more on your site.
Christine
Hello Christine it is so good to meet you, I am glad that I could help, seaweeds are so amazing and very beneficial All the best to you and have a good day.
Ok, this brings a couple questions to mind. For those of us who do not live near the ocean, can we buy seaweed anywhere to use in our gardens? How much of a benefit is it compared to buy soil rich with nutrients in it? The same or more benefit? I also had the opportunity to have fried seaweed. It was served on the side of a calamari dish and it was actually really good. I can’t pinpoint the flavor, but it seemed to taste like a flavor I knew.
Good to see you again my good friend, yes I know this is and interesting topic. Now on to your questions, seaweeds can enrich your soils and in my opinion is the same as buying garden soil that is rich in other organic material although some may see differently. Remember mixing any organic matter in to your soil can enrich it by adding nutrients and condition the soil as far as holding water, fertilizers and proper air circulation is concern. You can check with your garden center or nursery. Hopes this help all the best to you and have a good day.
I thought your article was very interesting!! I didn’t know there was uses for seaweed, let alone so many uses! Which I think is great. It seems so beneficial, I’m surprised this isn’t talked about more often. Too bad I don’t live near water to use the gardening techniques. I noticed there are a few grammar errors but that’s fine, your writing is easy to read and wasn’t boring. I’d say good job!
Hello Holly and thanks and thanks a million for your kind words and support and for pointing out where I need to make these corrections. I will make the changes, all the best to you and have a good day.
Hello Norman and thanks for such an infornative article. I live and grew up basically on the beach in Southern California. I fish the ocean and I’ve seen lots of seaweed especially of the kelp variety as you described.
I knew kelp was nutritious but you really shed light on how extensive its nutrition is. I did not know that kelp was so helpful when used in the garden. Now that you mention it though it does make sense.
The seaweed I’ve seen washes up on the beach and is full of all sorts of microorganisms and life. I’ve heard burying a dead fish in the soil helps too. Have you heard this? Lol. Probably an old wife’s tale.
Thanks again for an educational article. Geoff.
Hello Geoff it is so good to meet you and thanks for commenting, yes seaweeds are just amazing and can do so much both for us and our plants. Yes I have heard that one also about planting dead fish in soils. The truth of the matter is fish is a natural organic just like every living thing. In fact every live thing that dies and makes contact with the soil is considered to be a natural organic because of soil microbes that breaks them done to be used by plants. Hope this helps, all the best to you and have a good day.
Wow! This opens up a whole new world for me when it comes to preparing gardening soil… Great article and I will love checking out the rest of your site which is very well put together and visually pleasing. I had no problem wanting to read everything and the photos are great.
Cheers,
Hello John it is so good to meet you, and yes this sure does open a whole new world and that is so wonderful. The benefits of seaweed is just so amazing. Thanks for you support and your kind words. All the best to you my friend and have a wonderful day.
Great Article here on Seaweeds! I never knew seaweeds went looked at the way they are named as weeds. Knowing now that seaweeds have iron, calcium and iodine, I kind of want to give it a try and put it in my diet. I see they use it with sushi, guess that’s where I will start. What made you want to learn so much about Seaweeds?
Hello Kenny it is so good to meet you and I am glad that I could help. I believe in using that which is natural and beneficial because there are so many man made products that have so many side effects, I believe that God provided plants as a means for us to use so that we can live healthy lives without side effects. I just love plants, and nature itself and all nature has to offer. Hope this helps, all the best to you and have a good day.
Hi Norman,
That was a nice and a very informative article. I didn’t know that seaweed could be used as fertilizer or something to get a plants grow better. It is also very interesting to know that seaweeds also can also promote good health. It was a amazing to learn that there is a seaweed named Dulse that taste like bacon I think I want to try and eat it. There is so much to learn about this article. Is there available health supplement that made out of seaweed that is available anywhere?
Good morning Cris it is so good to meet you, I am glad that I could help, and yes the wonders of seaweeds are so amazing. You can purchased supplements from amazon, supermarkets, health stores and pharmacies. Hope this helps. Thanks again for commenting, all the best to you and have a good day.
I never knew there are so many types of seaweed! I love gardening, but for the time being I’m restricted to a pot garden for my herbs and the few decorative plants, and they need regular fertilizing. I always look for alternatives to the store bought fertilizers, and seaweed might be just it! I’ll look out for it during my next trip to the beach, and I’ll follow your tips and advice when using it on my pots. Thanks for this informative post!
Hello Ursula it is so good to meet you and I am glad that I could help, yes it is amazing the many benefits that we get from seed weeds, All the best to you and your garden project, have a good day.
I didn’t know that seaweeds have this much nutrient value. I know that mostly in Asia it’s used in cousines, but hey..
I really like the way they taste in sushi. We also use some of seaweeds in our cousine in Turkey. It’s actually Aegean cousine. And they taste great. Now that I know their nutrient benefits, I definetely will eat them more.
Hello Tyler it is so good to meet you and I am glad that I could help, It is good that you have made seaweeds a part of you diet, but please do eat in moderation because even though it is beneficial studies have show that some persons have had side effect from consuming high amounts of seaweed so eat in moderation , hope this helps, all the best to you and have a good day.
I love this article!
I have heard of seaweed being used in all kinds of products, but I never thought about using it in the garden or as a nutrient-rich spray. This has really opened my eyes.
Unfortunately, I do not live near a sea; I do however live near a fresh-water river.
Would the weeds/plants/vegetables that grow in the river have similar nutrient content as actual seaweed?
Are there any companies that sell seaweed to gardeners?
Thank you again for another great post.
Cheers
Paul
Hello my friend it is so good to see you again, seaweeds have so many benefits that it is so amazing who would ever though that seaweeds could help us in so many ways. Now as for weeds, weeds have a certain amount of nutrients that’s why it is advise if you have a garden and weeds begins to grow pull them up right away
because weeds competes with garden plants for water and nutrients, so this fact shows that weeds have nutrients. I know what some persons do and that is make a nutrient tea from weeds for their plants to return the nutrient back to the soil for their plants and it is done this way.
Collect as much weeds as you can place in a good size plastic container or bucket, then add water, enough to cover weeds. Place lid on tightly, after about three weeks remove lid and stir mixture, be warn the smell is not inviting, replace lid and after another two weeks remove lid. Stir mixture, then strain mixture with a cheese cloth, all you want from the mixture is the liquid, the other stuff that is left throw in the trash can.
So all that you should have left is the liquid, add enough water to the liquid to dilute it a bit so it should look lighter in color after you dilute. You can then very slowly poor this solution around the base of your plants don’t spray on crops that is ready to be harvested.
You can try this same method with weeds that grows in the lake also or you can check your garden center or nursery to see if they carry seaweeds. Hope this helps, all the best to you and have a good night.